Orrisroots

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The fragrant, thickened roots of certain iris species used as a fixative in perfumery and sometimes in herbal remedies for flavoring or scenting purposes
2. The dried rhizomes of specific iris plants valued for their sweet, violet-like aroma, commonly added to perfumes and occasionally employed in traditional medicine or flavor enhancement
3. A pungent and aromatic root derivative from iris plants, primarily utilized in scent compositions to stabilize fragrance or in folk uses for flavor and therapeutic effects

Etymology: "Orrisroots" is simply the plural of "orrisroot," the knobbly underground stem of certain irises, dried and prized for its violet-scented perfume. The plural form points to the material's pairing of two ordinary English words: "orris" (the iris plant itself, whose name is an older variant of "iris") and "root," which names the part of the plant being used. Dried orrisroot was traditionally ground into powder and used in sachets, potpourri, toothpowders and perfumery as a fixative, since its scent lasts far longer than many fresh flowers. Because the word is a plain compound, its interest lies mainly in the plant it names rather than in any twist of meaning.

Synonyms: orris root, orris rhizome